San Bartolomeo, Lisciano Niccone, Italy Vacation Rental

The property is situated close to the border of Umbria and Tuscany, in the hills above Lago Trasimeno and below Monte Castiglione (m 802). This is popular walking country with many local routes to explore. One trail goes past the property and connects with an ancient pilgrimage route that runs from Passignano sul Trasimeno to the Sanctuary of San Francesco in Chiusi della Verna.The area is also ideal for mountain biking. Nearby towns include Cortona, Assisi, Perugia with its fine mediaeval centre, the beautiful town of Gubbio. Siena nd Florence and Pienza are not far distant as are the wine towns of Montepulcino, Montalchino and Montefalco. The ancient Umbrian towns of Spello, Spoletto, Brevagna , Panicale, Montone ,Trevi and Todi are also nearby.

The property

The property comprises two separate houses. The main building is a former church called San Bartolomeo with associated living accommodation that has been restored from a ruin with care by the present owners. The church once served a small village called Corgna. The origins of the church are not certain but Corgna can be found on a map from about 1580 kept in the Gallery of Maps in the Vatican Museum. The church complex comprises a kitchen, dining room, sitting room, hall, study, and the actual church (measuring 15 metres by 5 metres). There are 4 double bedrooms, two with en suite-facilities. There is one additional bathroom and downstairs toilet. The house has an impressive collection of conSan Bartolomeoorary art from artists resident in the UK, France and Italy. The house has terraces to the south, east and west for relaxing and alfresco dining. There is also terracing around the pool which is next to the house. The pool is large with an infinity edge. The deep end is over two metres in depth. The second (lower) house, known as Casa della Cura, was used originally as a small farm owned by the church. It has a large kitchen/dining room, a large sitting room and three bedrooms. The master bedroom has an en-suite bathroom. There is a second bathroom and a downstairs toilet. Once again there are terraces for outside activities. The two houses are separated by a short distance. Both properties have ample space for car parking. Both properties have full facilities such as dishwashers, washing machines, tumble driers. San Bartolomeo has a broadband connection and a landline telephone. The grounds of the property are mainly given to olives and other trees on a large sloping site. The views from the two houses are truly amazing with a green valley below and the hills and mountains of Umbria and southern Tuscany in the distance. The surrounding hills are covered with Turkey oaks, chestnuts, white hornbeams and beech trees. Here live wild boars, foxes, porcupines, polecats, buzzards, owls, woodpeckers and other species that are not found in other areas. The side of the valley to the west is known as Poggio Bandito is associated with event s that occurred at the battle of Tresimeno in 217 B.C. when the Carthaginians under Hannibal defeated the Romans under the consul Gaius Flaminius. Hannibal’s last elephant is said to be buried nearby!

Local Events

In summer there are numerous events to include the famous jazz festival in Perugia, Tresimeno Blues held by the lake, as well as opera and concerts in the nearby medieval village of Preggio but 5 km away. A trip on the lake is well worth taking. You can catch a ferry from Passignano to the idyllic (and traffic-free) Isola Maggiore in the middle of the lake, and easily stroll around its entire circumference in less than a few hours. Make sure to take a moment at the small chapel on the island’s eastern shore with a statue of Saint Francis, commemorating his 40 days’ fast at this spot.